Accept The Gift

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Accept The Gift

Yesterday was not only Father's Day (Happy Belated, Dads), but it was also Juneteenth. Juneteenth, for those who may not know, celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation. President Lincoln signed it January 1, 1863, but without the benefit of email, telephones, TV or radio, or a collectively cooperative legislature in all states, most people being held as slaves didn't find out about it when it was signed. It didn't become a reality for them until June 19th, 1865, or 'Juneteenth'.

The proclamation made African Americans held in slavery legally free. There were ensuing legal battles, but in the purest interpretation of the law, they were no longer slaves. Funny thing was, not all of those who were now free, left their captivity. Many stayed right where they were, working just as they had before for many more years. They stayed slaves despite being free.

Its a wonderful illustration of our debt to sin. Before Christ's self sacrafice, mankind was a slave to sin. We were condemed to eternal separation from God. But Jesus literaly made Himself payment for every debt to sin for all eternity for all mankind, permanently reuniting us to God. But many simple choose to stay enslaved.

Beloved, accept the Gift. You can't earn this redemption. All that was needed to be paid was paid. There is nothing else for you to add to it. You can't earn Jesus' love. He already has extended it toward you. It cannot be increased or decreased. It can only be accepted. His love for you is as eternal as He is. You cannot create righteousness before God. All you can do is accept the Gift of Christ, His love and His righteousness. And in your acceptance is not only for eternal forgiveness, but for life itself.

The Emancipation Proclamation is barely 5 handwritten pages long. Just 699 words. It changed the course of an entire nation. The struggles that ensued are still being studied and followed today by people seeking justice and freedom throughout the world.

The scripture reference above, John 3:16, is only 25 words long, but it changed the course of human history, throughout all time.

Will you let Him change your life? Will you accept the Gift and all the life that comes with Him? We will happily help you receive, grow in and use the Gift at Fellowship.

John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Freedom and life.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson


Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.  Feel free to share this message.
Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy 138 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

What Is Man?

Psalm 8


1 O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!


What Is Man?

I have the great priviledge coming this weekend of sharing God's Word during our Father's Day observance at Fellowship. If you do not have plans to be at church, I hope, as I do every week, that you will plan to join us.

Any time my Pastor invites me to share, I am humbled, excited and a little anxious. I'm not worthy, in my mind, of the priviledge. At least, I used to think this way.

Worthiness is never something that is defined up. It, like favor, promotion, has to be defined down. Someone can put worthy on you, but you can never earn your worthiness. It's something that has to be given, never gained.

Who am I to share God's word? I'm the one He picked. You truly have to talk with Him about the appropriatness of it. I, on the other hand, have the responsibility to be obedient when He calls on me to serve or share. I didn't choose my calling. I accepted it. It wasn't the one I would have picked, believe me.

Why am I saying all this? As an encouragement. Your enemy is subtle and will even try to use your own sense of humility against you. Remember, Satan is not interested in you serving him. He's only interested in keeping you from serving, following after or believing God.

That calling, that press that's been on your life since you could remember. That dream that won't leave you alone. That still small voice that urges you to move on in your destiny is the God-planted calling trying to take root in your life.

A humble man or woman would rightly want to say 'but God, who am I to do this work?' But remember, who you are is the one He called. God will not set you on a journey that He is not fully committed to and prepared to see you through. His plans for you were laid before you were born and have eternal consequences. What is set for you is yours.

Beloved, press through the noise. Press through the humility into obedience. Press beyond the doubt into faith. Press beyond the objection to subjection. In your press, you'll find peace, purpose and a deeper relationship in Christ.

What is man? The one God chose to have dominion over the earth, to be made in His image and worthy of the blood of His only Son.

Who are you? The one Christ died for to restore to the Father.

Why you in this? Because you're the one God chose.

Romans 12:1-2 (again because some truth just has to be repeated, repeatedly)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Peace.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message.
Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy 138 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

Falling In Love

Song of Solomon 2:10-16

10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

Falling in Love with Jesus

There is a song that's popular in churches...it's called 'Falling in Love with Jesus'. Many of you probably know it better than I. That's the song that comes to mind whenever the Holy Spirit takes me to The Song of Soloman. It's the soundtrack that plays in the background as I read those words.

Make no mistake, Jesus is in love with you. It takes total devotion to lay down your life for someone, particularly someone who may not be in love with you.

We see this all the time. That mother who's so devoted to that 'no good son.' That husband who dotes on a wife who brings him nothing but grief. The doctor who still makes housecalls to an elderly patient who cannot get to the office. The volunteer who gently nuzzles and comforts a crying baby born HIV positive. Missionaries who leave a life of comfort to go to a life of lack, just for the privilege of sharing the Gospel. All people who love beyond themselves, laying their life down as an offering toward that love.

Yes, believe it. Jesus loves you. That's not a cliche. That's a statement of truth. His love for you, for me, is so full, and so complete that it saturates every physical and spiritual sense. You can smell it in the air. You can feel His touch. You can taste His sweetness and see how He moves for and toward you. And just like being in the arms of a loved one, when you pull away, you can still smell His scent on you. You can see the imprint where He touched you.

Beloved, get close enough that His very fingerprints are left on you. His banner over you is love. Open your heart and you'll find that you were made to love Him back. And in loving Him, you will know a completeness as you've never known before.

Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.

Fall in love with Jesus. It will be the best thing you've ever done. I promise. And we'd be happy to play matchmaker for you at Fellowship.

1 John 4:7-11
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Peace and greater love.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message.
Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy 138 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

No Greater Love

John 15:12-14



12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.


No Greater Love

In the United States, yesterday was Memorial Day. It's one of two days set aside each calendar year when this country is suppose to honor its armed forces. The other is Veteran's Day (November 11th...100th anniversary this year by the way). Veteran's Day has become a day to honor all who have served. Memorial Day is a day to honor all who have fallen in service for this country.

The day has lost some of it's sacredness over they years. I remember as a kid, we used to spend most of the day putting flags on the graves of veterans, and flowers on the graves of family members. My grandmother used to call it 'decoration day'. The picnic and cookouts weren't the focus as they've come to be now.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining...I'll take a day off and good food anytime I can get it. But, it is important to take a moment, even if it's the day after, to remember that the things we enjoy most in life often cost the very blood of someone else.

In this country, these enjoyments are our right to free speech, a free press, freedom to assemble peacebly, our right to own arms, our right to a justice system that is based in respect and protection, free elections with the peaceful exchange of power and so much more. They all cost blood, often won in war, both domestic and international battles. Young men and women, some in the uniform, some not, stood in harm's way to protect rights they often never personally got to experience. That's some great love.

But there was another. There was One who gave all for you, for me. There was One who held back nothing, not for an idea or a dream, but for your very soul. He came willingly, leaving all that He had behind and paid every important cost for you just so He could bring keep you. This One stood phyiscally, and continues to stand in the gap between you and God, your destiny, your eternity so that you will always have a connection. This One loves you, personally, just as you are and has only your best self in mind for you. Even though it cost Him His young earthly life.

John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Do you know this One? Have you met Him? He spent His whole life for you. He loves you more deeply and more profoundly than you can ever imagine. And He's waiting to give you life.

In Him, you'll find no greater love.

Come see the Man! See you at Fellowship.

John 4:19-30
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

Freedom and peace.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message.
Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy 138 W, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

Its Got to Line Up

1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

It's Got to Line Up

I thought about the scripture early Saturday morning. We live near a train line and it isn't unusual to hear horns in the wee hours of the morning. In my semi-sleep and with all the attention paid to the Rapture predictions, that train horn sounded like a trumpet when it sounded at 4 AM. I half got up and asked 'Lord, is that Yours?' I wasn't caught up. My mother and son weren't caught up. So I took that as a no and went back to sleep.

The Rapture was on everyone's mind, thanks to recent happenings. It's odd to look at those billboards proclaiming the 'End of the World on May 21st' here on May 23rd. But, the Word of God warned us about these 'soundings'. Paul was clarifying about speaking in tongues in this passage, but it's eerie how appropriate this 'uncertain sounds' lesson sounds today:

1 Corinthians 14:6-12
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?


8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.


11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

What is true has been true since Adam. We have to know the Master's voice for ourselves. We cannot rely on what someone else heard as we walk through this life. We have to grow to know the voice of God and His Truth based on His word, not anyone else's. Everything spoken about God must line up with what God has already said.

Jesus Himself pointed everyone to the Father, not Himself. He spoke from scripture. He fulfilled noted prophecy and did not speak of Himself except as it lined up with the Word of God.

Yet, every then and again, someone comes along, speaking something strange about the Lord. And even though nothing he or she says lines up fully with scripture, people believe it because they do not know for themselves.

If you were at all anxious about this recent prediction or if you felt a stirring in your heart that maybe you need to know more, I pray that you will ignite that spark and start your search for truth. If you seek truth, you'll find it. If you ask, it will be answered. These are scriptural promises. If you don't know where to start this search, we have room for you at Fellowship.

Just because the Rapture didn't happen this past Saturday doesn't mean it isn't coming. There are people in Missouri who's whole world came to an end last night. There are people mourning the loss of loved ones who feel like everything is over.

For others, their whole world just began with a birth, a wedding, an adoption. As I type this, one of our members is giving birth. Her world is just beginning, and yet her prepartation is just as important as it is for those facing the end of their lives.

We all must remember, no matter where we are in life, the trumpet will sound for each of us one day. Whether as a group or individually, the trumpet will sound.

The people behind this event had one part right, the time to prepare is now. And Fellowship may just be the place for you to do it.

1 Corinthians 15:52-58


52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.


55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Peace and victory!

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.  Feel free to share this message.  Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship ChurchWhere Passions Become Reality

Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy 138, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Aton Watkins, Pastor

Now, Serving!

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Now, Serving

Do you feel that? That sense of anticipation? The worry? The anxiety? Every expectant parent has had it. Every child waiting for the end of school has had it. The wonderful and awful thing about planning something is the wait. The anticipation that builds up is both joyful and painful. It's really and interesting dichotomy. We both hate and love to wait.

Waiting is not natural. We're doers. Our bodies are designed to move. Our brains are solution focused. We thrive on getting to the 'end' whatever the end may be in a situation. Ever try to watch a movie without watching the end. It will haunt you. You'll have to go and see the end of it, even if you weren't too crazy about the whole movie. We don't wait well. And that's ok.

See, the 'waiting' Isaiah talked about was the kind of waiting that a server does. Not, sit over here and be quiet, but like a good restaurant waiter or waitress, stand by, ready to attend to the needs of the one being served.

Mothers and fathers 'wait' on their children especially when they're young. They are constantly around ready to attend to the child's needs instantly. Adult children often find themselves waiting on their parents. Carrying mom back and forth to medical appointments. Helping dad do chores he is no longer able to do. This kind of 'waiting', the kind that involves action is EXACTLY what we're designed to do.

And when we do it to the Lord, our strength is renewed. We become like eagles. We can run and not get tired. We can walk with strength.

We've seen this in action. Jesus waited on us. He served all humanity with His whole life. He held back nothing in His earthly ministry. He offered His own body, in service to us, in obedience to the Father because that's how much God loved us.

Wait on the Lord. Stand by, waiting to attend to His desire in your life. Your strength will become new. You'll be like the eagles who don't hide from the storm, but who take to the air when the storm comes and glide on the updrafts.

Wait on the Lord.

John 13:12-16
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?


13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.


14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Wait. That's where the peace is.
Evg. Stephanie Robinson
Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message. Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy W 138, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor

How's Your Diet?

Isaiah 1:19

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:


How's Your Diet?

It's coming close to the middle of the year. Do you believe that? We are almost halfway through 2011. It seems like we just finished Christmas and we're already well past Easter. Where is the time going?

By this time of the year, most of us have broken our New Year's Resolutions. We're not jogging anymore. We've given up giving up sweets. We've packed away those wishes to be fit and eat better until next New Year's Eve.

This is the time of year when most gyms are pretty empty. Only the dedicated are in there sweating it out in May and June. The 'newbies' of February are long gone. You can tell this because every Golds and Ballys is offering a deal right now for you to join. Because, you know....they're empty.

So, like the gym, I want to hit you with a marketing plan. How's your diet? I don't care so much about your carbs and cholesterol. I'm more concerned with your spiritual diet. How's that?

Dear ones, I encourage you to take a look at your prayer life, your study life, the parts of your life in Christ that bring very little recognition from men, but matter most to God. See, most folks only care about what you have for dinner when you go out. No one ever asks what you had for breakfast or lunch unless you're planning on sharing it with them. But, like all good parents, God cares.

He wants to make sure you go through your day with good food, not once, not twice, but all through your day. But, He can only provide the food. You have to take it in. You have to choose spiritual 'meat' over worldly 'junk'. He can't make you put down the remote. He can't turn off the game or shut the pages of the novel. You have to choose.

Not only do you have to choose to take in, you have to choose to be open. You have to choose to make yourself available to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. It's just like that gym membership. You can't just show up and get fit. You have to choose to work out (regularly and hard) to see the positive results you want.

Don't settle for good things for your body only. Choose to give your spirit-self the same attention, good nutrition and work out you would for your body. You don't have to wait until New Year's Eve to do it. It's ok if you started and stopped. Start again. It's just as fantastic when you start May 9th as it would be if you start January 1. Besides, today is all you've got for certain. Redeem the time.

Isaiah 1:18-20
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Romans 12:1-2


1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.


2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Here's to your best you. Eat right, exercise and rest. Do it for your physical body too.
Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message.
Previous Lifeline mailings can also be reached through the church website www.fcchosengeneration.com on the Lifeline link. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy 138, Ste C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor